Haugesund International School - 10 år - en suksess
Nylig feiret Haugesund International School sine første ti år. Veksten har vært fra 18 elever til 170, og det går mot maksimalkapasiteten på 190. I dag representerer skolen 60 nasjoner.
Julie Osteig har vært rektor på Haugesund International School siden 2019. -The school grew, Fabio moved to Italy. And in 2019, I became Head of School. I stood in this abandoned kommune building across the bridge on Karmøy and I saw something that didn't exist yet. I had a vision — and with countless hands, and enormous trust, we built something real here on Torvastad, she said about Haugesund International School moving from Rossabø in Haugesund to Torvestad på Karmøy.
Under en jubileumstilstelning i Festiviteten i Haugesund nylig oppsummerte skolens styreleder, Synnøve Seglem, utviklingen slik:
Let me begin by sharing a little story. In February 2015, I was expecting my son, and, almost at the same time, another new beginning was taking place - the founding of Haugesund International School. There was a great deal of preparation and a mountain of applications to complete before we could even think about opening the doors of a brand-new school. I must give enormous credit to Haugaland Vekst, and in particular to Inger Kallevik Haavik and Inger Lise Bratteteig. Their dedication to all the paperwork, and their invaluable advice on what was required to run a school, cannot be overstated. In those early days, we needed just about everything: funding, teachers, classrooms, an IB licence, books, stationery, and, above all, students. At the outset, we had nothing, and we weren't sure whether the region was truly ready for such a school…
«I must give enormous credit to Haugaland Vekst, and in particular to Inger Kallevik Haavik and Inger Lise Bratteteig. »
Styreleder Synnøve Seglem holder 10-års jubileumstale.
Securing the capital to start the school was a major challenge. It proved difficult to persuade local companies to support the school financially, even though many agreed that having an international school would enhance the region’s appeal. Despite the enthusiasm, securing actual funding was far from easy. One of our most important supporters during the first five years was my own company, Knutsen Group. Alongside us, Haugaland Næringsforening and Haugesund Rederiforening, the true founders of the school, also provided vital financial backing.
I must also mention the crucial support we received from Fylkeskommunen. After countless meetings and emails, we eventually managed to rally a long list of local companies, with contributions ranging from 2,000 kr to 200,000 kr. By the time the school opened, we had secured 1.4 million kr, and after two years of operation, our total sponsor capital reached 2 million kr. Every contribution was vital, and with this financial foundation, we were ready to hire staff and secure premises. In our first year, we rented classrooms from Haugesund Kommune at Rossabø. By August 2016, as we prepared to open, the only thing we could not control was student enrolment. Without students, there would be no school!
Daværende ordfører i Haugesund, Arne-Christian Mohn, åpner Haugesund International School i 2016. Daværende rektor Fabio Corvaglia (frem til 2019) t.v.
I think I speak for everyone on the board of directors when I say that we were all a bit nervous about how things would unfold. Nevertheless, we managed to open our doors in August with 18 students. Some of those who started in Grade 1 in 2016 are here with us today, now completing their final year in Year 10. A special congratulations to you. To all our students, and especially the parents who have supported the school throughout these first ten years, I am deeply grateful.
Haugesund International School slik den ser ut i dag.
I would also like to recognise our dedicated staff and outstanding teachers. The school is fortunate to have a team of highly qualified teachers from diverse international backgrounds, and we are proud that some have been with us from the very beginning in 2016. Remarkably, we have not needed to spend on advertising; word of mouth has led to a steady increase in enrolment each year. As I mentioned, we started with 18 students in 2016, grew to over 30 the following year, and surpassed 50 in our third year. Today, we have a school representing 60 different nations, with more than 170 students enrolled and nearly reaching our maximum capacity of 190. Some classes even have waiting lists. It is truly an international school, and since the very start, our student body has been equally divided into three groups: those with two non-Norwegian parents, those with one non-Norwegian parent, and those with both parents Norwegian. This balance has remained consistent over the past decade, demonstrating the strong and sustainable demand for our school, independent of any single industry in the region. In fact, we observe that many of our students have connections to either Haugesund Hospital or the University of Vestlandet.
«The school is fortunate to have a team of highly qualified teachers from diverse international backgrounds, and we are proud that some have been with us from the very beginning in 2016. »
As for the importance of the school, it is clear to both the board and myself that we serve the whole region – from Sveio in the north, southwards to Skudenes at Karmøy, and east to Bokn and Tysvær. We are proud to welcome students from across the county. We are especially grateful to Karmøy Kommune for their full support in the purchase of the old Håland school property. They recognised that, although we are a private school, we do not compete with the public schools. Gaining these premises and the opportunity to grow have been fundamental to our success. Just imagine the contrast for a child moving from a school in the centre of Bangkok to the green, open spaces of Torvastad, with horses and sheep grazing just beyond the fence.
«We are especially grateful to Karmøy Kommune for their full support in the purchase of the old Håland school property. They recognised that, although we are a private school, we do not compete with the public schools.»
Finally, I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to Julie, our dear Head of School. You joined us first as an assistant to Fabio, our first Head of School, and immediately offered your support. You knew your own capabilities better than the board did, and you were determined to show that you could help the school to grow. We are so grateful for all you have done. Managing the school’s rapid growth has been no small accomplishment. You have overcome many challenges, always with the support of the board and myself. It has been inspiring to witness how you led the move from Rossabø to Torvastad, and then oversaw the expansion of our new MYP school building. Not only have you been Head of School, but you have also served as project manager for a major construction project. We are incredibly fortunate to have you, Julie.
«Finally, I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to Julie, our dear Head of School.»
Thank you, and congratulations to all of you on the 10th anniversary of Haugesund International School. You have truly demonstrated that there is a real need for a school like this in our region.
Fra feiringen av 10-års jubileet i Festiviteten i Haugesund.